Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Barbara Mason: Colts showed too much offense and Indy defense wasn’t giving any ground to Carr

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

For the Indianapolis Colts quarterback Phillip Rivers (17) he was busy all day giving the touchdown signal as the Colts ran over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise NV on Sun Dec 13, 2020 (AP News photo)

On the Raiders podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Indianapolis Colts (9-4) are headed down the road to post season and the Las Vegas Raiders (7-6) found why after being on the other end of a lopsided loss 44-27.

#2 The Colts in first half scored ten points in each of the first and second quarters and had a 20-14 lead. The Raiders who had lost three of their last four games had to be concerned going into the second half if they could conjure up some offense to get past the Colts.

#3 The Raiders quarterback Derek Carr struggled on offense in the second half as the Raiders scored six in the third and seven in the fourth quarters well short to catch the Colts. For Carr 316 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

#4  The Colts stopped the Raiders ground game cold, none of the Raiders running backs could get any traction as Carr was the only one who carried in a touchdown but other than that for the most part the Colts defense shut it down.

#5 The Los Angeles Chargers (4-9) have won two of their last six games will face the Raiders in Vegas for Thursday Night Football this week. The Chargers got a win against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday 20-17. The Raiders beat the Chargers the last time the two teams meet in LA on Nov 8th 31-26.

Join Barbara for the Raiders podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Bears come to life in second half get big win over USF by a bucket

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

An aerial shot of the Cal Bears Mikael Foreman taking the winning shot for three points at the buzzer sinks a win for Cal over the USF Dons at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley (@CalMBBall photo)

On the Cal Bears podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris the Cal Bears got an unexpected win over the USF Dons (5-3) on Saturday at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley was this one as good as it gets?

#2 The Dons put on an offensive performance in the first half with a 37-29 but in the second half the Bears came out and turned things around outscoring the Dons by ten 43-33.

#3 Morris, what fired up the Bears to play such a second half like that. They brought in a three game losing streak and that included their recent loss at Pepperdine. There were some doubters regarding Cal before this one started.

# 4 Speaking of that second half the Bears got offensive help from Grant Anticevich 18 pts, Andre Kelly 22 pts and Matt Bradley 17 pts the offense distributed nicely and coach Mark Fox had to be relieved by his players who finished in double digits.

#5 The Bears next are at Boston College Dec 22 who are 1-5, 15th in the ACC. BC has a four game losing streak. Coming off this win against the Dons after losing three straight before which Bears team will show up on Dec 22?

Join Morris Phillips for Cal Basketball podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings game wrap: Kings turn it around for 121-106 win in Portland

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Sacramento Kings and Portland Trailblazers played their second pre season game in Portland on Sun Dec 13, 2020 (live over lay photo from nba.com)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Sacramento Kings embarked on their tune-up games on Friday night. Things did not go as planned. The Kings defense let them down big time in a loss to the Trail Blazers in Portland 127-102.

The Kings remained in Portland to rematch the Blazers on Sunday.

In the game, the Kings showed much more resilience on the defensive end of the floor. The Kings allowed the Trail Blazers to score 106 points while holding the Blazers to 22 points or less in two quarters.

The Kings didn’t allow a “meltdown quarter” like Friday night when they gave up 40 points in the first. On the offensive side of the ball, the Kings were able to score 121 points. For a 121-106 victory tally on Sunday. Richaun Holmes led the Kings in scoring by putting up 14 points. Buddy Hield led the game in assists with seven. That was an unusual sight for the Kings but something that undoubtedly helped win the game.

The Kings overall looked much better in the second game in Portland than the first. They are looking to get some sort of rhythm down before starting the regular season on December 23rd in Denver.

Keys to success for the Kings this year appear simple in my eyes. The Kings must play with pace and play good defense on the other end. The Kings have the players to knock down shots in the open court; they just need to get themselves the looks.

Next Up: The Kings will travel home to take on the NorCal rival Golden State Warriors at Golden One Center on Tuesday night. The game is set for 7 PM PST.

Stanford’s Pac-12 hoop opener will have to wait; Coronavirus issues strikes again

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

For fans waiting to see the Stanford Cardinal forward Jaiden Delaire making those midair layups anytime soon against USC in Los Angeles will just have to wait as their game was postponed due to Covid 19 protocols. The Trojans were short players on their roster which forced the cancelation (gostanford.com photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, December 13, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic strikes college sports again, as it has forced the postponement of Stanford’s scheduled men’s basketball game against Southern California.

USC announced in a statement that a confirmed case of COVID-19 has prompted the Trojans men’s basketball program to pause its team activities. This action forced USC to postpone its home game at Galen Center against Stanford less than three hours before tipoff.

The decision was made under the Pac-12’s basketball policy. The Trojans did not have the minimum number of scholarship student-athletes available for the game due to COVID-19 protocol.

The statement added that the Pac-12 Conference will work with both schools to find a date to reschedule the contest.

San Francisco’s playoff hopes takes gut punch after 23-15 loss to Washington on Sunday

Published on by jhawkes51Leave a comment

 Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (11) walks behind the bench as Dwayne Haskins (7) reviews his previous series during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

By Joe Hawkes
Staff Writer

Its time to stick a fork in the 49ers’ plans for a return trip to the playoffs in 2020.

With a 23-15 loss to the NFC East-leading Washington Football Team in Glendale, Arizona at the home stadium of the Cardinals, the 49ers fall to 5-8 on the season. San Francisco trails the 7th-seeded Cardinals (7-6) in the conference. The 49ers face off against the Cardinals in Week 16, but will need a lot of help to get back to the postseason.

Quarterback Nick Mullens made his seventh start of the season in place of Jimmy Garopplo and it was another tough afternoon for Mullens and the 49ers’ offense. He had one of his roughest days, committing two backbreaking turnovers that Washington turned into 14 points.

With San Francisco clinging to a 7-6 lead late in the second quarter, Mullens fumbled at the San Francisco 47-yard line after being sacked by Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne and recovered by rookie defensive end Chase Young who returned it all the way for the go-ahead touchdown to put Washington ahead 13-7.

Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and a heavy favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, finished with six tackles and a sack. Washington’s defensive line had no trouble getting to Mullens, sacking Mullens four times on the day

In half where Washington only managed 57 passing yards, Mullens was just awful. He completed 10-of-20 passes for 103 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions in the first half.

With Washington leading 16-7 late in the third quarter, Mullens threw a bone-headed pass intended for fullback Kyle Juszczyk in the flat at the Washington 24-yard line that was intercepted by defensive back Kamren Curl who returned it 76 yards for a touchdown to push Washington’s lead to 23-7 to close out the quarter.

After that turnover, television cameras picked up backup quarterback C.J. Beathard warming up on the sidelines but Mullens would remain in the game.

Mullens would connect with Juszczyk on a 6-yard touchdown pass (followed by a successful 2-point conversion to wide receiver Kendrick Bourne) to make the score 23-15 midway in the fourth quarter following an 11-play, 75-yard drive in 4:42.

On the 49ers ensuing drive, Young batted down a key third-down pass to force a punt with less than seven minutes remaining in the game.

Mullens 25-of-45 passes for 260 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His passer rating was 68.2.

Rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk set career-highs in catches (10), targets (16) and yards (119).

Aiyuk was the only true play-maker San Francisco had on the day after losing wide receiver Deebo Samuel for the game on the 49ers’ first offensive play. Samuel left the game with a hamstring injury and is expected to undergo a MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

Running back Raheem Mostert led the 49ers with 14 carries for 65 yards. Fellow running back Jeff Wilson Jr. rushed for 31 yards on 11 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run that gave San Francisco a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Even in a tough game offensively for San Francisco, the unit ran more plays (76 to 62) recorded more total yards (344 to 193), more first downs (21 to 12) and won time of possession (32:11 to 27:49) over Washington. Mullens and the offense had success moving the football, but Washington made it tough for the 49ers to score when it they had to.

Washington played musical chairs at quarterback against the 49ers.

Alex Smith finished 8-of-19 for 57 yards and one interception in the first half, but a right calf issue before halftime knocked him out for the remainder of the game. Smith was replaced by backup Dwayne Haskins in the second half.

Haskins completed 7-of-12 passes for 51 yards.

Tight end Logan Thomas led Washington with six catches (on 7 targets) for 43 yards.

Second-year wide receiver Terry McLaurin needed just 23 yards to record his first career 1,000-yard receiving season, which he did by hauling in two catches for 24 yards against the 49ers. For the season, McLaurin has 73 catches for 1,001 yards receiving.

With top running back Antonio Gibson inactive with turf toe, Washington leaned on backup running back J.D. McKissic. The fourth-year running back finished with 11 carries for 68 yards.

In Week 15, the 49ers travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys in a game that was flexed out of Sunday night into the afternoon window. The Cowboys hammered the Cincinnati Bengals, 30-7, at Paul Brown Stadium in Week 14.

Washington returns home to take on the Seattle Seahawks, who kept the New York Jets (0-13) win-less with a 40-3 crushing at Lumen Field in the Pacific Northwest.

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: Sumlin packs up bags after loss to ASU; Utah State walk out because religious discrimination issues; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Arizona Wildcats head coach Kevin Sumlin was out the door at Arizona after a crushing 70-7 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Fri Dec 11, 2020. Sumlin with a 9-20 record during tenure at Arizona (djournal.com file photo)

On Headline Sports with Daniel:

1 U of Arizona fires coach Kevin Sumlin after Wildcats suffer 70-7 loss at home to ASU

2 Utah State players opt out of game with Colorado State – alleged religious discrimination issues

3 Rare Wayne Gretzky rookie card fetches $1.29 million in auction

4 RIP – Dick Allen

5 RIP – an old colleague of Daniel’s falls to COVID-19

Catch Daniel every Sunday for Headlines podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Raiders defense struggles in loss to Colts, 44-27

Published on by psushawnLeave a comment

Photo: Indianapolis Colts

By Shawn McCullough

The Raiders defense gave up 212 yards on the ground as the Indianapolis Colts rolled to a 44-27 win over Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

It wasn’t good enough today,” said head coach Jon Gruden.  “Defensively we had no answer. You can’t give up that many yards rushing and not get to the quarterback and then lose the turnover margin and expect to win in this league.”

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran 20 times for 150 yard and two touchdowns, including a 62 yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr finished with 316 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“My job is to take care of the football and my job is to move the team down the field and score touchdowns and I didn’t do that good enough today,” said Carr.

Carr hit tight end Foster Moreau for a 47 yard touchdown in the first quarter, while connecting with wide receiver Nelson Agholor for a 21 yard score in the second quarter.

“This game is going to have a short shelf-life for us,” said Moreau. “Everyone is going to watch the film and we are going to need to make corrections, but we don’t have much time to harp on our mistakes, because we have to play a good Chargers team on Thursday.”

With the loss, the Raiders fell to 7-6 on the season heading into their next game on Thursday night at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Game Notes:

  • The Raiders were outgained by the Colts, 456-424.
  • Running back Josh Jacobs returned from injury, rushing 13 times for 49 yards.
  • The Raiders turned the ball over three times, to Indianapolis’ zero.

San Jose State Spartans game wrap: Spartans lose second straight game to Cal Poly 75-71

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Jose State Spartans forward Ralph Agee (35) finished third in scoring for the Spartans with 13 points against the Cal Poly Mustangs on Sun Dec 13, 2020 (photo from sjsuspartans.com)

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the San Jose Spartans took on  Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the Mustangs home court.  Currently the Mustangs are 1-2 while the Spartans are 1-1 after being soundly beaten Friday night at the hands of the St. Mary’s Gaels 96-61.  
The Spartans never got anything going in that game and were re-grouping for the quick turnaround and hopes for a much better showing against Cal Poly. 
 
San Jose took a nice 29-12 lead in the first half before letting their foot off the pedal allowing the Mustangs to pull within eight points.  As the first half came to an end the Spartans led but the score had been whittled down to four points 36-32.
San Jose seemed to have had the game in hand early on but the stubborn Mustangs had other plans as they challenged the Spartans with some nice work from Keith Smith for eight points, Mark Crowe for six points as well as help from their bench.  
 
The Spartans had Seneca Knight back and he went right to work scoring 12 points.  Ralph Agee had eight points and Richard Washington also contributed eight points.  The team would lean heavily on Knight, Agee and Washington in the second half as well as their defense keeping the Mustangs from another surge in the second half.
 
The second half was not the start that San Jose had hoped for.  They lost the lead and found themselves trailing early. The Spartans fought back and with 7:04 left in the game they were tied at 59.  
San Jose fought the entire game but came up just short losing a heartbreaker 75-71.  Washington finished the game with 22 points, Knight with 20 and Agee with 13 plus some nice work off the bench from Trey Smith and Kaison Hammonds.  San Jose now drops to a 1-2 record, next taking on Santa Clara Friday the time TBD.  
   

Foreman’s shot at the buzzer gives Cal their only lead in 72-70 win over USF

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–“Sometimes, you gotta do more,” said Cal coach Mark Fox.

Fox certainly got more grit and determination from his Bears in an improbable 72-70 win over USF at Haas Pavilion on Sunday. Makale Foreman’s 3-point basket just a fraction of a second before the final horn gave the Bears the win and their only lead of the day.

After a string of disappointing losses the Bears played smarter, harder and more efficiently against the Dons. But it didn’t amount to much until the game’s final play. In the final eight seconds Cal rushed the ball up the full length of the floor with Matt Bradley passing to Grant Anticevich then to Foreman at the 3-point arc just ahead of the final buzzer.

The Bears showed tremendous patience in getting the ball to their graduate transfer Foreman, the team’s only high percentage option from distance. By backing up four feet beyond the arc Foreman created the needed distance to avoid the lunging defender Jamaree Bouyea.

Ironically, Foreman had missed all five of his previous 3-point attempts and six shots in all.

A big factor in the win was Fox getting his team to reduce its shot attempts from distance after they fell to 242nd nationally (out of 315) in 3-point efficiency. In the meantime, Fox continued to encourage Foreman, the eighth most prolific 3-point shooter last season at Stony Brook, to look for his shot.

“He’s a great shooter,” Fox said of Foreman. “The decreased practice time has hurt him.”

The rest of Foreman’s took just nine threes (making five) and instead focused on getting the ball to the basket and drawing fouls. That strategy paid off as Andre Kelly scored a season-high 22 points and the Bears got to the line 23 times (making 16).

Anticevich and Bradley certainly did more, making tough shots with defenders draped on them from inside and out. The senior forward finished with a team-best 18 points and Bradley added 17.

The Dons scored the game’s first five points and led for 39 minutes only to be caught. Bouyea led all scorers with 24 and Kahlil Shabazz added 21. Bouyea went spectacular with his buzzer beater from 65 feet that gave USF a 37-28 halftime lead.

“I thought we played well enough to win, but not well enough to guarantee victory,” USF coach Todd Golden said. 

The Dons were attempting to beat Cal for an unprecedented third consecutive season, with the previous two wins both by double digits.

“Sometimes you gotta do more” was Fox’s explanation to his players for dressing in a traditional suit and tie, in a season where the NCAA has allowed coaches to wear polo shirts and sweat suits. Fox revealed to his team his choice of wardrobe on Saturday with the background story meant to motivate his group.

Apparently the ploy hit home.

The Bears will reveal their next two games later this week as the season on the fly continues. Fox did say there was an issue with one of their East Coast opponents meaning they may have two new opponents on their East swing in the days before Christmas or just one along with Boston College, which was previously announced.

 

Toner’s late field goal lifts Cardinal past OSU 27-24

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment
Stanford tight end Tucker Fisk (88) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of the team’s NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, December 12, 2020

Jet Toner booted a 39-yard field goal with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, giving Stanford 27-24 Pac-12 football win over Oregon State in its regular season finale at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.

Beavers quarterback Chance Nolan was leading OSU upfield when the Cardinal’s Gabe Reid punched the ball as Nolan was falling and Stanford recovered at its own 25-yard line with 23 seconds remaining.

Oregon State kicker Everett Hayes kicked a 26-yard field goal at 7:37 of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 24-24.

The see-saw battle had three lead changes. One of them occurred at 13:34 of the fourth quarter when Davis Mills’ 6-yard touchdown run gave Stanford a 24-21 lead. In the third quarter, the Beavers took a 21-16 lead when Nolan connected with Tyjon Lindsey for a 30-yard TD.

Two minutes into the second half, the Cardinal (3-2) took its first lead of the game on a 1-yard plunge by Davis Mills.

Oregon State (2-4) opened the scoring at 10:30 of the first quarter on Nolan’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Lindsey. Four minutes later, the Cardinal responded with a 12-yard scoring pass from Mills to Tucker Fisk, but a 2-point conversion pass was incomplete, and the Beavers led 7-6.

The Beavers increased their lead to 14-6 on Nolan’s 8-yard TD pass to Zeriah Beeson at 12:42 of the second quarter. Toner’s 47-yard field goal with 1:27 left in the half pulled Stanford to within 14-9.

Austin Jones gained 126 rushing yards on 22 carries for Stanford, while Mills completed 21 of 29 passes for 292 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions, but was sacked three times. Simi Fehoko led Cardinal receivers with six receptions for 110 yards.

Nolan completed 17 of 30 passes for 221 yards and three touchdown and no interceptions. Jermar Jefferson was the Beavers’ leading rusher with 80 yards on 18 carries. Tre’Shaun Harrison caught five passes for 91 yards.